Winding-indicator for watches.



S. S. HALL, In. WINDING INDICATOR FOR WATCHES.

. V APPLICATION FILED FEB. 1 I9I3- v 1, 178,918. Patent-ed Apr. 11, 1916.

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WINDING INDICATOR FOR WATCHES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB- 7. I913- Patented Apr. 11, 1916.

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SAMUEL S. HALL, JR., OF MONTGOMERYOENTER, VERMONT.

WINDING-INDICATOR FOR WATCHES.

Specification of Letters Fatent.

Patented Apr. 11, 1916.

Application filed February 7, 1913. Serial No. 746,835.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, SAMUEL S. HALL, Jr., a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Montgomery Center, in the county of Franklin and State of Vermont, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Winding- Indicators for 'Watches, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the present invention is to provide an indicator for designating the condition of the main spring or actuator of a timepiece to show whether the timepiece is in need of winding or not, which indicator is driven by the cannon pinion, that is, the parts or gearing of the timepiece to which the hands are directly connected, rather than by the spring or actuator, or the train of the timepiece.

- The invention suitably modified as to details of construction but not changed in principle, is applicable both to watches and clocks, and also applicable to all kinds of clocks whether the same are spring-driven or impelled by a weight.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown a form of my invention adapted for and applied to a pocket watch, for the purpose of illustrating the principles of the invention, but not with the intention of limiting the invention to the particular details of construction shown, or to the combination of the indicator with a watch rather than with any other form of timepiece.

In the accompanying drawings :-Figure 1 is a face view of a watch. Fig. 2 is a view much enlarged of a part of the pillar plate of the watch and the windin indicator, and

the means for operating it, w ich are located between the pillar plate and the dial. Fig. 3 is a sectional view enlarged on the line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail cross section on the line 44-of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the indicator showing the same in a different position from that represented in Fig. 2. Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9 are detail views of the means by which the indicator is operated showing the same'in four different ositions.

My indicator is preferably of that type which makes itself evident when the timepiece is in need of winding by causing a color contrasting to that of the dial to appear through an opening provided in the dial, although the mvention is not limited to that particular character of indicator.

The principal feature of the invention is that the indicator is driven by the hands, that 1s, the hand-carrying member or members, whlch in most watches are separable from or movable relatively to the driving tram of the watch for the purpose of perrnlttlng the hands to be set. Thereby my lndlcator is governed by the position of the hands and is made to indicate that the watch needs winding whenever the hands indicate a certaln tlme, thereby insuring as far as possible, that the timepiece will be wound at the same hour every day. Winding at regular times is essential tosecure the best poss ble performance of a watch in keeping time.

Referring to the drawings, the dial of the watch is indicated at 1 in Figs. 1 and 3. In the dial is an aperture 2 shown clearly in the same figures and indicated by dotted lines n Figs. 2 and 5 also. The indicator itself is shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 5 and consists of a plate 3 secured to and carried by a movable bar 4, and so held by said bar that it I lies close against the rear face of the dial 1 across the aperture 2, as shown in Fig. 3. A part of the indicator has the samecolor or lack of color as the dial, and another part designated 3 in Figs. 2'and 5 has a color contrasting with that of the dial. The indicator is movable so that either of these portions may be caused to appear back of the aperture. Preferably, the indicator is arranged so that when the time for winding occurs, the portion having the contrasting color is visible through the aperture.

As the indicator is operated by the handcarrying members, and the slowest moving of such members, to which the hour hand is connected makes two complete rotations in twenty-four hours, it is necessary that the operating mechanism be so constructed as to make the indicator perform its indicating function upon only every second rotation of the hour hand, that is, only once in every twenty-four hours. I will now describe the mechanism by which the indicator is driven.

The bar 4 previously mentioned, is. pivoted by a stud 5 to the pillar plate 6 of the watch, such stud passing through a slot 7 in the bar whereby said bar may move lengthwise as well as oscillatively. At one end the bar has a lip or toe 8 extending toward the pillar plate and in the side toward the dial it has a slot 9. Between the bar and the dial is a driving gear wheel 10 having teeth- 11 which mesh with an idle.

15 is shown in these drawings.

As my invention does not involve anything new in the cannon pinion or dial train. for moving the hands of the watch, I do not illustrate these parts in detail, as I have considered it sulficient to show only the elements 13 and 15 of the hand-driving train, and to show by both illustration and statement that this train actuates the indicator through the gear 10. On the face of the gear 10, next to the bar 4 and projecting toward the latter, are two pins 16 and 17 shown in dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 5, and

shown also in Figs- 6 to 9 inclusive. On the outer face of the pillar plate adjacent to the bar 4 is a stationary cam block or projection 18, at one side of which there is a spring 19 having a free end near the toe 8. This free endis bent down at a sharp angle and is adapted to pass into a slot or recess 20 in the pillar plate, although this detail of the invention is not a particularly material one.

The gear wheel 21 shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, represents the winding wheel of the main spring, and 22 is the click or pawl which holds said spring against unwinding. 23 is the arbor to which the winding wheel is connected, and which is turned when the spring is being wound. Connected to this arbor is an arm 24 which is also turned at.

the same time and is adapted under certain conditions, which will be duly described, to engage a projecting finger 4 on the bar 4. In the type oi watch which I have illustrated here, the arbor and arm do not turn while the watch is running, but are turned only when the spring is being wound and only in one direction, such direction being indicated by the arrow in Fig.2. Beside the bar 4 there is mounted rotatably a tube or drum 25 within which is contained a coiled spring 26 and upon the outside of which is fastened a strap 27 which is also fastened to the adjacent side of the bar 4. The strap is so arranged as to be wound up on the drum under certain conditions, and is capable of being unwound from the drum when the bar 4 is moved in one direction, rotating the drum when thus being unwound, and putting the spring 26 under tension.

After windin the watch, the indicator occupies the position shown in Figs. 2, and 3, the bar which carries the indicator being positioned as shown in said fi in Fig. 6. The bar is at th1s time at the downward limit of its travel, with its toe 8 engaged with the spring 19, the pivot stud 5 res, and also.

at the upper end of the slot 7, and the strap 27 unwound'from the drum 25, the spring 26 being under tension. As the watch continues' to run, the gear wheel 10 is rotated at the same speed as the hour hand, and the studs 16 and 17 are carried toward the bar 4. Stud 17 passes through the slot 9 in the bar without effect, asindicated in Fig. 6, and the stud 16 following engages the end of bar 4 and moves the toe 8 away from the spring 19 along the edge 28 of the cam block free to move upward and is so moved by the spring 26 acting through the drum 25 and strap 27, until the toe of the bar is arrested by the edge 30 on the cam block. This position is shown in Fig. 7 The endwise movement thus given to the bar is not suflicient to cause the colored part 3 of the indicator to become visible, but is suflicient to allow the pin 16 to pass by the end of the bar. On the next rotation of the wheel 10 the pin 17 engages the bar at a point below the notch 9 and swings said bar until its toe passes over the shoulder 31 at the end of the edge 30 at the end. of the cam block, whereupon the spring 26 is free to move the bar endwise along the side of the cam block as shown in Fig. 8, and toswing it pivotally about the stud 5 across the end 32 of the cam block until the arm brings up against a stop pin 33. These two motions of the bar, first endwise and then sidewise are continuous. Fig. 8 shows one position of the bar while moving, and Fig. 9 shows the bar at rest at the end of these movements. The toe of the bar is then at one side of the cam block 18 and is in line with the spring 19. Then the colored part of the indicator appears at the aperture 2 and reminds the possessor of the watch that the time has come for winding it.

When the watch is wound the arm 24 is rotated as described, and in rotating it engages the finger 4 which is now in the path of the bar, moving the bar endwise until the toe 8 passes the end of spring 19 and said spring sllps over the toe. The indicator is then in the first position and the setting arm 24 is able to pass on as shown indotted lines in Fig. 6.

The part which I have heretofore termed the cam 18 is in effect an arrester which restrains the tendency of the spring 26 to move the indicator-carrying bar 4 endwise in one direction. The surfaces 28 and 30 and the shoulders 29 and 31 constitute a series of steps on the arrester from which the bar is successively disengaged by the actuating wheel 10 on successive rotations of said wheel. That is, on the first rotation of the wheel the operating pin 16 disengages the bar from the step 28, allowing the bar to be moved a short distance endwise and on the followin rotation the pin 17 disengages the bar rom the other step 30 and the foregoing. description, have reference solely to the drawing and are not intended to have any limiting significance in relation to the timepiece in which my invention is contained.

It will be understood that the wheel 10 is adapted to operate the indicator only once in every second revolution, that is, once in every twenty-four hours. Thereby the indicator is adapted to the ordinary timepiece in which the hour hand makes a complete rotation in twelve hours and may be driven by the holder of such hand.

Since the indicator is thus driven by the hand holder rather than by the driving train, it will give its indications when the hands indicate acertain hour and will not give its indication at any other indicated hour, even though the hands may be shifted relatively to the driving train. That is, when the hand holders and the gear train therefor, including the cannon pinion which ordinarily carries the minute hand, are turned in setting the hands, the actuating mechanism for the indicator is correspondingly shifted and as aresult the indicator will act always at the same time indications made by the hands, whatever the relation of the hands may be to the driving train. In other words, if the indicator is set to operate at ten oclock in the evening, it will always operate when the hands are in the position to indicate that hour, no matter how often or to what extent the hands may previously have been set.

In the foregoing detailed descriptlon I have referred to the timepiece illustrated as a watch. I desire to emphasize that in so doin I have not intended to limit the in- VGIItlOIltO that sort of timepiece, or to a spring-driven timepiece, or to a timepiece in which the time indications are made by hands or pointers, or to one in which the hands are mounted concentrically with the center staff of the movement. I consider that my invention embraces any form of timepiece, whether driven by aspring, by a weight, or otherwise, whether'the timepiece .is a pocket watch or a clock of any size, and

whatever may be the character or location of the .time-indicating members, provided only that the winding indicator is set with regard to the position of said time-indieating members, and regardless of any change in the relation of said members to the driving mechanism of the timepiece. What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a time piece, a winding indicator having a signal arranged to occupy different positions, in one of which it is operative to indicate the necessity for winding and others of which it is inoperative for that purpose, positive means for holding said indicator in an inoperative position, potentially active means tending to move said indicato'r'into its operative position, and a frictionally driven member for removing said indicator from the influence of said positive means, whereby said potentially active means is enabled to act.

2. In a time piece, a winding indicator having a signal arranged to occupy different positions, in one of which it is operative to indicate the necessity for winding and others of which it is inoperative for that purpose, positive means for holding said indicator in an inoperative position, potentially active means tending to move said indicator into its operative position, and a frictionally driven rotary device having means for partially disengaging said indicator from the influence of said positive means upon its first rotation after winding, and for completely so disengaging the indicator upon a subsequent rotation, whereby the potentially active means is enabled to act.

3. In a timepiece, a windingindicator, a holder for a time! indicator, said holder being frictionally driven by the timepiece movement, mechanism. operated by said holder for placing the winding indicator in indicating position, and means actuated upon winding the. timepiece for returning the indicator to a non-indicating position.

4. In a timepiece, a winding indicator, yielding means tending to move said indicator in one direction, a stationary arrester, for preventing such movement of the indicator, having a series of steps, and a rotary driver having means for shifting said indicator, arranged to displace the indicator from one step upon one rotation and from a second step upon a second rotation.

5. A timepiece including a winding indicator movable from a non-indicating position to indicating position, yielding means tending constantly to so move the indicator, an arrester for preventing such movement of the indicator, and an actuator driven in synchronism with the time indicating members of the timepiece for disengaging the indicator from said arrester.

6. A tlmeplece including a wlndmg indicator movable from a non-indicatmg POSI- tion to indicating position, yielding means operated by the winding of the timepiece for returnin the indicator into its non-indicating position.

7. In a timepiece, an indicator, an indicator operating Wheel rotatable twice in twenty-four hours, an indicator carrier movable reciprocatively and oscillatively, mounted near said Wheeland having a slot in the side which is next to the Wheel, a spring acting upon said indicator carrier tending to move the same in one direction,

an arrester having a series of steps, said indicator carrier having a projection engaging said arrester, pins mounted on the actuating Wheel projecting-toward said indicator carrier adapted to engage the carrier successively on successive rotations and displace the carrier from engagement With p the steps of the arrester successively.

8. In a timepiece, a Winding indicator adapted to occupy an'indicating position and a non-indicating position, positive gearing forming a part of the mechanism for driving the time indicator of the timepiece, and being adjustable independently of the movement of the timepiece, normally inopand a non-indicating position, positive gearing forming a part of the mechanism for driving the time indicator of the timepiece, and being adjustable independently of the movement of the timepiece, normally .inoperative means constantly tending to shift the winding indicator into the indicating position, devices operated by said gearing for permitting said means to become operative When the time indicator designates the time for Winding, a Winding device, and means operated by said winding device for placing the Winding indicator in the nonindicating position.

10. In a timepiece in combination With a gear Wheel frictionally driven and being adjustable independently of the movement of the timepiece for driving a hand or other time indicator, a second gear Wheel driven by said first gear Wheel, a Winding indicator, and means controlled by said second gear Wheel for causing said Winding indicator to shift from a non-indicating position into an indicating position.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

SAMUEL S. HALL, JR. Witnesses:

P. H. COLEMAN, E. B. MORAN. 

